Horsewoman at centre of ‘whipping’ controversy killed in riding accident

The hunt enthusiast at the centre of a controversy in which she was filmed apparently beating an animal rights activist has been killed in a riding accident.

Jane Goring, 57, from Heathfield, is understood to have fallen from a horse and suffered fatal injuries during a draghunt, where riders follow an artificial scent with a pack of hounds.

It was on November 18 last year that saboteurs clashed with the East Sussex and Romney Marsh Hunt in a field off Church Road, Herstmonceux.

A dramatic video posted by Brighton Hunt Saboteurs went viral on social media after it appeared to show Mrs Goring repeatedly hitting a man with her riding crop after he grabbed her horse’s bridle.

Sussex Police announced in January that no further action would be taken against the horsewoman because “the evidence supplied did not support a prosecution”.

However, last month she appeared at Brighton Magistrates’ Court to face two criminal charges through a civil prosecution. She denied beating Simon Medhurst with her whip and Shirley Makin with her horse.

Mrs Goring suffered her fatal accident on Wednesday (October 7) while riding with the Mid Surrey Farmers’ Drag Hounds at Leigh. The group paid tribute to her on Facebook, saying: “We very much regret to inform you that Jane was tragically killed while out dragging.

“On behalf of the masters and members of the drag hunt, we send our condolences at this awful time.”